In this issue:
FORMER ASME FEDERAL FELLOW SELECTED AS FIRST CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER AT NIST
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced that a former ASME Federal Fellow and manufacturing industry executive Michael F. Molnar has been appointed to be the agency’s first-ever Chief Manufacturing Officer. This new position will leverage NIST’s strong relationships with industry to accelerate innovation that will create 21st-century manufacturing jobs and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness. As part of this effort, the position will support the broader Advanced Manufacturing Partnership recently launched by President Obama that brings industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging technologies.
As Chief Manufacturing Officer, Molnar will be responsible for planning and coordination of the Institute’s broad array of manufacturing research and services programs. He will serve as NIST’s central point of contact with the White House, the Department of Commerce and other agencies on technical and policy issues related to manufacturing.
Molnar has extensive industrial experience, with leadership roles in manufacturing technology, advanced manufacturing engineering, metrology and quality systems. He currently serves as Director of Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development at the Columbus, Ind., headquarters of Cummins Inc. Cummins is a $14 billion international company that designs and manufactures commercial engines and power generation systems.
Molnar served as a 2003-2004 ASME Federal Fellow in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the White House, and was elected as a fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He is a licensed professional engineer, a certified manufacturing engineer and a certified energy manager. He received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and both a Master of Science in manufacturing systems engineering and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an active member of professional societies, consortia and volunteer organizations.
For more information about the ASME Federal Government Fellowship program, please visit: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/advocacy-government-relations/federal-fellows-program
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related manufacturing issues for ASME. He can be reached at
fakesp@asme.org
EPA RELEASES LONG AWAITED CROSS-STATE AIR POLLUTION RULE
On July 6, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which requires 27 states to improve air quality by ratcheting down power plant emissions that drift into other states. This rule replaces EPA's 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). As reported in the December 31, 2008 Edition of Capitol Update, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed an earlier decision to strike down new federal power-plant regulations and reinstated the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) on a temporary basis, holding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must craft a replacement for CAIR that addressed the flaws identified in the earlier decision.
Under the new rule, twenty seven states in the eastern half of the country will work with power plants to cut air pollution under the rule. Emission reductions will take effect quickly, starting January 1, 2012 for sulfur dioxide (SO2) and annual nitrogen oxides (NOX) reductions, and May 1, 2012 for ozone season NOX reductions. By 2014, combined with other final state and EPA actions, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will reduce power plant SO2 emissions by 73 percent and NOX emissions by 54 percent from 2005 levels in the CSAPR region.
According to the EPA, the rule is expected to protect around 240 million Americans living in the eastern half of the country and provide up to $280 billion in annual benefits. The EPA estimates the cost of compliance to be around $800 million per annum in 2014, and points out that a number of power plants covered by the rule have already begun to make improvements in their facilities for compliance purposes.
In a related development, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a revised version of H.R. 2401, the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011 (“TRAIN Act”), by a 33 to 13 vote. The bill would require more than a dozen of EPA’s issued rules since the start of the Obama Administration be reviewed by the heads of 11 government agencies and offices as to their respective economic effects. The report would be due for submission to Congress in August 2012. Two additional rules were added to the Committee-passed legislation: the CSAPR described above; and, a proposal that would require all coal fired power plants to meet strict new limits on mercury, acid gases and other types of toxic pollution.
To read the Committee’s press release on its approval of H.R. 2401, go to: http://energycommerce.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=8799
To review the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decision that lead to the creation of CSAPR, please visit: http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/193ACBDFBF577D4F85257800005873BB/$file/05-1244-1155490.pdf
For additional information on CSAPR, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/
Robert Rains handles public policy-related environmental issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
NRC ISSUES "RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENHANCING REACTOR SAFETY IN THE 21ST CENTURY" REPORT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Near-Term Task Force last week issued a 92-page report, “Recommendations for Enhancing Reactor Safety in the 21st Century” report, prepared in response to the Commission’s direction to conduct a systematic and methodical review of NRC processes and regulations in order to determine the next steps for enhancing the NRC’s regulatory system and its policy direction. In its report, the Task Force also addressed protecting against natural disasters and ensuring emergency preparedness. This report comes on the heels of a statement made this week by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, in which he called for a gradual phase out of nuclear energy in light of the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant on March 11.
The report suggested that the piecemeal regulatory approach, established over decades by the NRC, has addressed many safety concerns and issues, using the best information and techniques available at the time. But that there are still safety gaps and additional measures that could be taken to enhance safety.
The Task Force’s twelve overarching recommendations to the NRC are the following:
- Establishing a logical, systematic, and coherent regulatory framework for adequate protection that appropriately balances defense-in-depth and risk considerations;
- Requiring licensees to reevaluate and upgrade as necessary the design-basis seismic and flooding protection of Structures, Systems, and Components (SSC) for each operating reactor;
- Evaluating potential enhancements to the capability to prevent or mitigate seismically induced fires and floods;
- Strengthening Station Black Out (SBO) mitigation capability at all operating and new reactors for design-basis and beyond-design-basis external events;
- Requiring reliable hardened vent designs in Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) facilities with Mark I and Mark II containments;
- Identifying insights about hydrogen control and mitigation inside containment or in other buildings as additional information is revealed through further study of the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident;
- Enhancing spent fuel pool makeup capability and instrumentation for the spent fuel pool;
- Strengthening and integrating onsite emergency response capabilities such as Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP), and Severe Accident Management Guidelines (SAMG);
- Requiring that facility emergency plans address prolonged SBO and multiunit events;
- Pursuing additional Emergency Preparedness (EP) topics related to multiunit events and prolonged SBO;
- Pursuing EP topics related to decision making, radiation monitoring, and public education; and,
- Strengthening regulatory oversight of licensee safety performance (ROP) by focusing more attention on defense-in-depth requirements consistent with the recommended defense-in-depth framework.
The entire report may be read at: http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1118/ML111861807.pdf
This short-term study will be followed by a long-term review that will build on the initial work as more information comes out of Japan.
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE PRESSES FOR NASA SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM PLANS
The Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on July 12 to examine delays in NASA’s selection of a heavy-lift space launch system (SLS). Members on both sides of the aisle expressed their frustration and considerable concerns to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, and pressed for details about the future of America’s human space flight program and the ability of NASA to meet America’s space exploration goals as outlined by Congress.
In his opening statement, Chairman Hall summarized the Committee’s frustrations, noting that, “Nine months ago, President Obama signed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010. Provisions in the bill clearly directed NASA to provide Congress with decisions on the selection of the crew vehicle and launch system designs by January 9, 2011. Instead, on January 15, Congress received a “Preliminary Report” that emphasized its selection of prototype vehicle designs, but did not commit the agency to their construction. The report was careful to note, and I quote: “NASA hopes to finalize its acquisition decisions as early as Spring of 2011 – details that will be included in a follow-on report to Congress.” We are well into summer and no such report has been sent.”
Administrator Bolden emphasized that NASA has a clear direction for our human spaceflight programs, but that the agency is still finalizing plans for its final integrated proposal for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and SLS. In concluding his oral testimony, Bolden noted that the first unmanned test flight for the new SLS is now targeted for 2017, placing full operational capability for the SLS years beyond the target dates laid out in last year’s authorization act.
To view Chairman Hall’s and Administrator Bolden’s full statements and an archived webcast of the Science Committee’s hearing, please visit: http://science.house.gov/hearing/full-committee-hearing-review-nasa%E2%80%99s-space-launch-system
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related NASA issues for ASME. He can be reached at
fakesp@asme.org
NEW COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORT SHOWS FAST-GROWING STEM JOBS OFFER HIGHER PAY, LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) has released a new report that profiles U.S. employment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. “STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future” offers an inside look at workers who are driving the nation’s innovation and competitiveness and helping America win the future with new ideas, new companies and new industries.
In 2010, 7.6 million people or 5.5 percent of the labor force worked in STEM occupations. Key findings from the new report show that over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs, and STEM jobs are expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than other jobs in the coming decade. Meanwhile, STEM workers are also less likely to experience joblessness.
Further findings show STEM workers command higher wages, earning about 25 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts. STEM degree holders also enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations. Likewise, college graduates – no matter what their major – enjoy an earnings premium for having a STEM job.
In comparison to the average worker, STEM workers are highly educated. More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers.
“STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future” is based on analysis to date from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Current Population Survey. In this report, STEM jobs are defined to include professional and technical support occupations in the fields of computer science and mathematics, engineering, and life and physical sciences. The STEM occupation list contains 50 detailed occupation codes.
To review the 10-page ESA report, please visit: http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/reports/documents/stemfinaljuly14.pdf
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce issues for ASME. She can be reached at
carlm@asme.org
STUDY: INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS UP BY 32 PERCENT IN 2010
A recent report prepared by Bloomberg New Energy Finance for the United National Environment Program found that global investments in green energy increased by 32 percent, or $211 billion, in 2010. “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011” also reported that for the first time, developing economies overtook developed ones in terms of “financial new investment,” i.e., spending on utility-scale renewable energy projects and provision of equity capital for renewable energy companies.
Among the highlights of the report are the following:
- China, with $48.9 billion in financial new investment in renewables (up 28 percent), was the world leader in 2010;
- Other parts of the emerging world also showed strong growth, including:
- South and Central America: up 39 percent to $13.1 billion;
- Middle East and Africa: up 104 percent to $5 billion;
- India: up 25 percent to $3.8 billion; and,
- Asian developing countries, excluding China and India: up 31 percent to $4 billion.
- The category of government research and development for long-term clean energy development increased over 120 percent to well over $5 billion.
The report points out that not all areas enjoyed positive growth in 2010: there was a decline of 22 percent to $35.2 billion in new financial investment in large-scale renewable energy in Europe in 2010. However, this was more than made up for by a surge in small-scale project installation, predominantly rooftop solar.
To read more about the report, please visit: http://bnef.com/Download/pressreleases/158/pdffile/
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS MARATHON MARKUP TO ADVANCE ENERGY MEASURES
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) held a long markup session this week in order to advance a large number of energy measures, demonstrative of the Committee’s desire to have energy legislation in the 112th Session of Congress. At the centerpiece of this markup is the bipartisan bill, the “21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act” (CEDA), which would allow the Energy Secretary to create a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA) that would finance clean energy projects. Both Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are committed to advancing the bill, but argue that identifying offsets would be crucial to the bill’s final passage. Both also argue that CEDA would be revenue neutral; the $10 billion funding to create the program would be recycled as it is reapplied to different projects over time.
Although a final list of all the bills advanced during this markup session has yet to be released by ENR, it can be confirmed that the Committee approved the following bills:
- S. 512, A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out programs to develop and demonstrate two small modular nuclear reactor designs, and for other purposes;
- S. 1067, A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development and demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs relating to nuclear reactors, and for other purposes;
- S. 734, A bill to provide for a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy;
- S. 1000, A bill to promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry, and for other purposes.; and
- S. 1001, A bill to reduce oil consumption and improve energy security, and for other purposes.
ENR also advanced 17 environmental bills by voice vote. To read the full slate of legislation under consideration by ENR prior to the markup, please visit: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=c2cc7b0e-eeee-7628-be0e-6930e86e4895
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
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